Barbara

Is it public knowledge where Luis Ribagorda has gone?

I'm seeing the Lane/Cornejo SB because I think it will suit her perfectly. And crossing fingers that Cornejo is uninjured.

Thanks for the clarification, ksk04! Curious that Veronika needed the variation simplified. Hope there is no injury involved.

A question about the Lilac Fairy variation: from the photos I've seen her costume appears to have a long skirt with a very tall head dress. I was picturing this costume and Veronika trying to pirouette in it. Was this the case? How did Devon Teuscher accomplish it? Or perhaps there is also a tutu costume for this variation? I can't wait to see this production during the Met season!

Something has always puzzled me: I've read/heard previously that Veronika had a hard time adjusting to life in NYC when she first arrived and she mentions it again here - shopping for a duvet and not knowing the name. If Kolpakova urged her to go to ABT and with Irina and Max still in the company weren't there any Russian speakers who could have given her advice or at least offered to be a shopping buddy? It seems so callous to invite an artist to join a company and then leave them on their own to sink or swim both professionally and personally. I'm glad to hear she is leading a happier life now. Another thought - she mentions Marcelo and yet is usually cast with Stearns. Please give her a Swan Lake (or Giselle) with Marcelo!

They're all adorable and good sports! Thanks for the links!

Lynette, the two I have on my bookshelf are: "Speak to Me, Dance with Me", Popular Library paperback edition from 1973 (this is a collection of letters that cover the same time period as your book) and "Where the Wings Grow: a Memoir of Childhood". Thank you for reminding me of them - sounds like it's time to re-read! (There's another memoir from the 1950s called "And Promenade Home" that I haven't read.) I also have a book called "Martha: the Life and Work of Martha Graham" from 1992 that Ms. DeMille wrote, also very interesting with her signature "voice". I heard her speak at a ceremony in 1984 presented by the Americana Dance Theatre called "An Afternoon with Agnes DeMille, Reminiscences". This must have been after her stroke as I remember her seated when the curtain rose and I don't believe she stood at all. What a wonderful, singular personality.

That was delightful, pherank - thanks!

In answer to the subway ride, I'd say at least half an hour probably a little more and then a bit of walking. I'd allow for 45 min - hour so as not to feel rushed. (imo) I've always had good luck with the HopStop website when planning subway trips. Hope this helps!

Sarah Lane and Joe Gorak were, well, magical Friday night. Didn't see any of the problem partnering that was mentioned here. They looked comfortable and adorable together. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but I love Ratmansky's Nutcracker. I find it incredibly moving and I think his snow flake interpretation is brilliant. I am very sorry to see it move across the country.

I wonder if ABT will be taking JKO students to Calif when they move this production next year. Or, possibly using local Calif students from the new school being established there (or other local schools). Would be a shame for the JKO students but understandable if their families (and they) wouldn't want to be far from home over the holidays.

I can't believe I missed this! I thought it would be on this evening and I was planning to record it so I could watch Serenade over and over. Ugh. Serves me right for not reading the nytimes until it was too late. Thankfully I'll be able to watch it online, thanks to amckean for the link!

The seats I hoped to get for Swan Lake were $174! I'm afraid I'm going to have to pass especially since the specter of winter weather and work commitments may prevent me from making it into the city. I'll be kicking myself when I start to read reviews on this site but it was a decision I needed to make.

What surprises me the most is that Ratmansky made virtually no revisions (at least to my eyes) over the years. I feel like the first act is pretty good, with the Snowflakes being a big highlight, and I really like many of Ratmansky's storytelling decisions (e.g., having adult dancers in the Nutcracker and Clara roles.) However, the second act feels decidedly unmagical -- from the spare sets to the bland character dances. And it seems like pretty much no one is a fan of adult Clara's peek-a-boo moment or her Vegas wedding bridal veil. The production has so much potential, and I just wish Ratmantsky would have reinvested some creative energy into tweaking the second act.

As for the poor ticket sales this year, I suspect most locals who wanted to see this production have already seen it. And if you're not a balletomane, you probably see no need to go back year after year. And I certainly agree with others that Lincoln Center has more of a tri-state draw than BAM does.

I think you hit the nail on the head re ticket sales, fondoffouttes. I happen to like this Nutcracker very much but even I have not attended every year. I think I went 2 years in a row then took a break then went back last year. I would have probably taken a break this year too had it not been their final season. I know this may be heresy but I'd grown a bit bored with the Balanchine Nutcracker and haven't attended in years, although I do have a recording that I'll watch just to see Bouder as Dewdrop. And I whole heartedly admit that a holiday trip to Lincoln Center for Nutcracker is much more magical than a trip to BAM.

I'm lucky in regard to location - my daughter lives within walking distance to Barclays and BAM so for me it is a destination! In the past we've met in Manhattan and done xmas-y things there, hopped the subway back to Brooklyn for a rest and dinner then the walk to BAM - perfect!

These are iconic posters that I and probably hundreds of other bunheads had on their walls in "the day".

So sad this is happening during their final Nutcracker run. I've found Ratmanksy's version to be delightful and am very sorry to have it move to the west coast. But can't help but think that I was a chump for buying an expensive ticket so soon. Ah well, if the seats remain unsold I will clap even more enthusiastically than usual.

And with some of our Ballet Alert-ers on camera! Bravo!

I must add that the Mik corps made me realize how beautifully the ABT corps does the Wilis moving arabesques across the floor.

Goose bumps!

I also felt there was no chemistry between Osipova and Sarafanov. In Act 1 the very unfortunate costume for "the Count" with a scoop neck and short skirt and Sarafanov's current very short hair cut, in my opinion made it look like Giselle was dancing with a very young boy. Consequently I was never drawn in emotionally to the love between them. I enjoyed Sarafanov much more in Act II. Still no chemistry but beautiful dancing, apart from a few very loud landings from both of them. In addition to Osipova I was most impressed with Borchenko.

Reporting in on the group trip by patrons of my library to NYCB and the Meet a Dancer tour! We saw the Balanchine/Tschaikovsky program, which I had seen the week before. Nice for me to see different dancers this time around. Everyone (there were 19 of us, most non-ballet goers) enjoyed themselves and most thought the Tschai Pas was the best (Bouder/Garcia). For me a highlight was seeing Veyette do T&V for the first time in person. No wonder ABT imported him to do this piece! The tour was simply wonderful. Our dancer was Georgina Pazcoguin who couldn't have been sweeter. She talked about the history of the State Theater and the pieces we would be seeing that day in addition to her "typical" day. (She was dancing the Scherzo from Tschai Suite No.3 that day) We were then taken back stage to see the warm up area that some of the dancers were already starting to use. Then on the stage and what a thrill to see the house from that vantage point. Savannah Lowery was warming up in the wings and Georgina borrowed one of her pointe shoes to show us. One of our group brought her granddaughter who had her own pointe shoes for Georgina to sign, which she happily did as well as pose for many photos. I really felt like they went above and beyond for us especially for our youngest member who was also taken to the stage door to collect more autographs. We mentioned that we had read Jenifer Ringer's book and Mel, the NYCB tour organizer said she was missed and they all wanted to go to Calif to visit her. It was a wonderful day and there's talk of wanting to do it again and take the Costume Dept tour!

I feel especially proud of Russell's promotion since he taught (along with Savannah Lowery) the Adult Movement class I recently attended. Bravo!

IMearns, Peck, Bouder, and the retiring Whelan: these seem to me to belong to any list of the best ballerinas in the world today.

I certainly second that. Definitely some world class ballerinas now at NYCB. Unfortunately, most of the men at NYCB are not world class at the moment. The golden age of Woetzel, Boal, Hubbe and Soto has passed.

And that's why I'm getting such a kick out off re-introducing myself to NYCB lately. (I'm a much more frequent ABT attendee). In any given program you have the chance to see one or more of these world class ballerinas - what a treat! Out of curiosity who would you in the know consider the world class men currently in the company? Veyette, deLuz, and Fairchild?

That must have been a very special 5 minutes, Rose1186! Thanks for your review!